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Skunk's Spring Surprise
When Skunk wakes from her long winter nap, she can't wait to see all her friends. But they're nowhere to be found! Do they think she stinks? Poor Skunk is fuming ... until she discovers the real reason her friends are missing. In this charming companion to Where Is Bear? , Lesléa Newman and Valeri Gorbachev have once again created a funny and warm story about doing whatever it takes to show friends how important they are.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
24 people want to read
About the author
Lesléa Newman
107 books249 followersLesléa Newman (born 1955, Brooklyn, NY) is the author of over 50 books including Heather Has Two Mommies, A Letter To Harvey Milk, Writing From The Heart, In Every Laugh a Tear, The Femme Mystique, Still Life with Buddy, Fat Chance and Out of the Closet and Nothing to Wear.
She has received many literary awards including Poetry Fellowships from the Massachusetts Artists Fellowship Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Highlights for Children Fiction Writing Award, the James Baldwin Award for Cultural Achievement, and two Pushcart Prize Nominations.
Nine of her books have been Lambda Literary Award finalists.
Ms. Newman wrote Heather Has Two Mommies, the first children's book to portray lesbian families in a positive way, and has followed up this pioneering work with several more children's books on lesbian and gay families: Gloria Goes To Gay Pride, Belinda's Bouquet, Too Far Away to Touch, and Saturday Is Pattyday.
She is also the author of many books for adults that deal with lesbian identity, Jewish identity and the intersection and collision between the two. Other topics Ms. Newman explores include AIDS, eating disorders, butch/femme relationships and sexual abuse. Her award-winning short story, A Letter To Harvey Milk has been made into a film and adapted for the stage.
In addition to being an author, Ms. Newman is a popular guest lecturer, and has spoken on college campuses across the country including Harvard University, Yale University, the University of Oregon, Bryn Mawr College, Smith College and the University of Judaism. From 2005-2009, Lesléa was a faculty member of the Stonecoast MFA program at the University of Southern Maine. Currently, she is the Poet Laureate of Northampton, MA.
She has received many literary awards including Poetry Fellowships from the Massachusetts Artists Fellowship Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Highlights for Children Fiction Writing Award, the James Baldwin Award for Cultural Achievement, and two Pushcart Prize Nominations.
Nine of her books have been Lambda Literary Award finalists.
Ms. Newman wrote Heather Has Two Mommies, the first children's book to portray lesbian families in a positive way, and has followed up this pioneering work with several more children's books on lesbian and gay families: Gloria Goes To Gay Pride, Belinda's Bouquet, Too Far Away to Touch, and Saturday Is Pattyday.
She is also the author of many books for adults that deal with lesbian identity, Jewish identity and the intersection and collision between the two. Other topics Ms. Newman explores include AIDS, eating disorders, butch/femme relationships and sexual abuse. Her award-winning short story, A Letter To Harvey Milk has been made into a film and adapted for the stage.
In addition to being an author, Ms. Newman is a popular guest lecturer, and has spoken on college campuses across the country including Harvard University, Yale University, the University of Oregon, Bryn Mawr College, Smith College and the University of Judaism. From 2005-2009, Lesléa was a faculty member of the Stonecoast MFA program at the University of Southern Maine. Currently, she is the Poet Laureate of Northampton, MA.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 16, 2015
A cute little book about Skunk waking up from hibernating and his animal friends waiting on him with a special surprise. Parents and/or teachers can springboard off some of the surprises and recreate your own with the kids.
June 7, 2019
This book starts off with Skunk waking from a dream about her friends. She sets off to find them but becomes concerned that her friends hate the way she smells. Ultimately, she finds her friends and they have a surprise for her! The talent show bit takes up a lot of the book though and it doesn't feel very engaging or entertaining to me. Then, Skunk's poem is rather long too. This story doesn't elicit a very emotional reaction from me and the illustrations are not my absolute favorite either.
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September 4, 2019
I loved the camaraderie among the animal friends. And how they all worked together to surprise their friend. Plus the skunk was adorable.
March 30, 2021
Very sweet story for ages 4 or younger. Skunk has friends! And they throw her a party!
June 15, 2016
An adorable story of woodland friends. Skunk wakes up from hibernation in search of his friends. When he finds them, they've been planning quite the surprise. A great story about friendship and kindness. The illustrations compliment the story and capture the little ones. This is a book that I could read over and over to the kids. It is a great bedtime book. It takes only about 5 minutes to read and each page offers a lot to look at.
April 24, 2012
After waking from her winter nap, Skunk worries that her friends have forgotten her but it turns out they have planned a spring surprise.
Subjects
Skunks -- Juvenile fiction.
Forest animals -- Juvenile fiction
Talent shows -- Juvenile fiction.
Rhyme -- Juvenile fiction
Subjects
Skunks -- Juvenile fiction.
Forest animals -- Juvenile fiction
Talent shows -- Juvenile fiction.
Rhyme -- Juvenile fiction
March 23, 2014
This is a sweet and entertaining tale about friendship. The characters are anthropomorphized animals who are celebrating the arrival of Spring and Skunk's return from hibernation. The rhyming narrative is short and fun to read aloud and the illustrations are colorful and cartoonish. We enjoyed reading this book together.
February 11, 2012
This is an okay with story with pretty illustrations. Skunk wakes up from hibernation and his friends put on a talent show for him. The book is a quick read with nice illustrations, but kind of boring.
March 10, 2015
Skunk wakes up from her winter's nap and tries to find her friends. She discovers them by the lake waiting for her. They have put together a talent show for her! Everyone does their bit, and then Skunk reads her own poetry.
Okay for preschool storytimes.
Okay for preschool storytimes.
July 26, 2009
A simple and delightful story of a skunk who wakes up and looks for his friends only to find they have a surprise for him!
April 7, 2010
A bit of an unsual storyline with forest animals celebrating spring with a surprise for skunk who has been hibernating. Illustrations are very cute and expressive.
March 13, 2011
Skunk wakes up from his winter's nap to play with his friends. Told in verse.
April 16, 2012
Read with kids I tutor
July 21, 2012
After waking from her winter nap, Skunk worries that her friends have forgotten her but it turns out they have planned a spring surprise.
May 6, 2015
3.5 stars I like the story a whole lot. I 4 stars story. I just don't like artwork with a lot of black lines, it just doesn't please my eye. But all in all It was a fun read about Spring!
June 25, 2015
5* art
3* story
3* story
April 2, 2016
When Skunk wakes up in the spring, she thinks her friends have forgotten about her.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews